Teacher layoffs mulled

NEWMARKET — To make up for the potential $300,000 gap in next school year's budget, the Newmarket School Board is eying teacher layoffs.

Liz Markhlevskaya

NEWMARKET — To make up for the potential $300,000 gap in next school year's budget, the Newmarket School Board is eying teacher layoffs.

Possible budget cuts were laid out for School Board members March 24. They include eliminating the school-to-career coordinator at the Junior/Senior High School, three paraprofessionals at the elementary school, and doing away with a new first-grade teacher position next year.

Gov. John Lynch's proposed state budget suggests no contribution to the state retirement fund, subsequently shifting costs onto New Hampshire communities.

In upcoming weeks, the School Board will have to make tough decisions. By April 15 the district is required to notify staff members whether they will be invited to return to work for the 2011-12 school year.

The Legislature won't finalize the budget and potential state contribution to employees' retirement benefits until June.

According to Hayes, the total of the employer's share for teacher retirements is 13.95 percent — 9.07 percent paid by the school district and 4.88 percent paid by the state.

The loss of a state contribution would amount to $300,000, money the school district doesn't have available. On March 8 voters only approved $15,234,889 for the fiscal year 2011-12 operating budget, which already included eliminating and reducing several staff positions at both Newmarket schools.

"I am frankly appalled with what is happening at the Legislature," said Hayes, who said the governor's proposed budget is still "very much alive" at the state level.

To make up for the possible $300,000 loss, Newmarket's two school principals were asked to suggest realistic cuts which would impact existing school programs the least.

"I looked for two days and nights for where we could squeeze something out to not affect programming," said Junior/Senior High School Principal Chris Andriski. "There's not a lot in that budget."

At the Junior/Senior High School it was suggested to eliminate the school-to-career coordinator, a full-time position currently held by Nancy Winterbottom and paying $88,500.

Andriski said while some of the programming could stay in place by other staff members picking up the pieces, "to say (the cuts) won't impact kids is not true."

Some of the duties of the school-to-career coordinator would be filled by a full-time job coach, as well as the guidance department, he said.

"To even hint that we wouldn't take a hit in losing the school-to-career coordinator is disingenuous at best," said School Board member Linda Mantegani. "We're going to make do next year."

Junior/Senior High School Librarian Yvette Reid said losing the school-to-career coordinator would be devastating, especially in the midst of the school's accreditation process.

"I feel there would be a lot of students who fall through the cracks," said Reid, fighting back tears at Thursday night's School Board meeting.

Reid asked board members why cutting middle school athletics or not offering coaches salary increases are not being considered instead.

Hayes said while those options are not off the table, "Preserving the program is the priority there," and some of the school-to-career program would remain.

Winterbottom, who has worked for 13 years as the school-to-career partnership program coordinator, said, "I'm deeply troubled about the possible elimination of the position."

"A job coach, the guidance department, and an enrichment specialist would be extremely hard pressed to come anywhere close to providing school-to-career services to all students," said Winterbottom.

School Board Chairman Cliff Chase said if the general sentiment is that the position is too critical to eliminate, the School Board will have to find another place in the budget to cut $88,500.

Proposed cuts also include three paraprofessional positions at the elementary school, as well as the $50,000 in contingency set aside for potentially needing another first-grade teacher, or having a deficit in the food service program.

School Board members agreed to meet Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to further discuss the budget. On April 7 they will decide which, if any, staff members will receive pink slips.

Chase said the School Board is looking for public input, whether by phone, e-mail, or coming to a meeting in person.

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